August 2011

“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:39) We can think of many examples of it… — The musician lost in her music yet, at the same time, most fully herself. — The athlete pushed beyond his ‘limits’ but finding new […]

Matthew 10:16 is a veritable menagerie of biblical imagery: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Not since the ark have so many animals been crammed into so short a Scriptural space. Yet Jesus thinks we will be well prepared […]

In Matthew 7 Jesus calls false prophets “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Now in Matthew 10, He sends out some true prophets – the 12 disciples – and they will be “sheep in the midst of wolves.” (Matthew 10:16) When worldly prophets infiltrate the church it’s deadly. And when the church’s prophets infiltrate the world it’s […]

Last week David Cameron called “pockets of our society… not just broken but, frankly, sick.” He was referring not, of course, to politicians but to the riotous youth of Britain. Jesus says, there is a problem with moral and spiritual sickness – a deadly one. Yet the far greater problem is people who deny their […]

It sounds like the sort of saying we should use at Christmas. It has that ye olde yuletide ring to it: “Be of good cheer!” But when Jesus used this phrase there was nothing cheery about the circumstances. There was no earthly reason to ‘cheer up.’ Yet that didn’t stop Jesus from saying it. One […]

At heart God is Giver. We, therefore, are meant to receive – that is, believe. And yet, listen to how Jesus commonly speaks of His followers: “O ye of little faith.” (Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Luke 12:28) There are two exceptions – the Roman Centurion and the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:28). They have “great faith”, even though […]

Everything is relative. By which I mean that all things correspond to God. Even God corresponds to God and has His existence relative to God. That is the doctrine of the Trinity. Therefore how much more ought the creature to properly relate to its Creator. So the vital question arises, how should we correspond to […]

Suppose I told you that anyone could drive my car. What kind of car would you imagine? And if I told you that anyone could have my car, what would you suppose? Would you imagine a sports car? Probably not. More likely I was offering a rust bucket due for an expensive MOT. If we […]

Sometimes the KJV translates it as “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28) Sometimes it says “wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42, 50) Both are translations of the same Greek phrase. (The King James is not as consistent as some like to make out). Yet the popular reception of […]

The Jews were insiders – the chosen race, the people of God. Israel was a light to the nations, a shining advertisement for the LORD’s grace and glory. And yet, as Jesus would often say, “the first shall be last and the last shall be first.” (e.g. Matthew 19:30) Judgement involves dramatic reversals. Those on […]